Coco Gauff's Return to the Court Ends in Disappointment

Fresh off her victory at the French Open, Coco Gauff faced a surprising defeat at the Berlin Open, losing to Chinese qualifier Wang Xinyu with scores of 6-3, 6-3. This match marked Gauff's first appearance since her Grand Slam win and highlighted her struggles on grass courts.

Match Overview

Gauff, ranked second globally, struggled with her game, accumulating 25 unforced errors and seven double faults. Despite having a bye to the second round, she couldn't capitalize on her position. Gauff expressed her disappointment on social media, stating, "It was a tough one today but happy to be back on court. Tried my best to adjust with the quick turnaround but it wasn't enough."

Wang Xinyu's Triumph

Wang, ranked 49th, played a stellar match, focusing on strong serves and aggressive returns. She shared her strategy post-match, "After I won the first set, I just told myself, 'OK, let's take a minute and enjoy this, I'm playing the French Open champion, and I won the first set.'" Her performance was a clear indicator of her potential and resilience.

Looking Ahead to Wimbledon

Gauff is now turning her focus to Wimbledon, starting June 30, where she aims to surpass her previous best of reaching the fourth round. Meanwhile, Wang continues to impress on the tour, proving her mettle against top-ranked players.

Other Matches at Berlin Open

In other matches, Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the quarterfinals after a tough match against Rebeka Masarova, and Marketa Vondrousova overcame Diana Shnaider in a grueling three-setter. These matches set the stage for an exciting continuation of the tournament, with players fine-tuning their skills for the upcoming Wimbledon.